Pelé - The African Mirror

Jun

2023

LEGENDS, the world’s largest football collection, opens its doors in Madrid

LEGENDS is a 4,200m2 space in which 600 pieces from the most important institutions in world football are displayed, land in Puerta del Sol connected in a moving, immersive and technological experience Landmark pieces from players such as Maradona, Pelé, Casillas and Messi, all used in official matches, are just some examples of what visitors can expect to see from June 1st in this venue in Madrid's Puerta del Sol LEGENDS, The Home of Football, presented by LaLiga will open its doors in Madrid on June 1. An opening that will position the Spanish capital as the epicentre of world…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Messi statue to stand next to Maradona, Pele at CONMEBOL museum

SPORT

LIONEL Messi stepped out of Diego Maradona's shadow by leading Argentina to World Cup victory last year and a statue of the diminutive forward will stand alongside those of his predecessor and Brazil great Pele at the South American federation's museum. Messi, holding a replica of the World Cup trophy, stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony at the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) headquarters in Luque, Paraguay before the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday. The 35-year-old emulated the late Maradona by leading Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar in December. "I…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Pelé: a global superstar and cultural icon who put passion at the heart of soccer

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PELÉ, soccer’s first global superstar, has died at the age of 82. To many fans, the Brazilian will be remembered as the best to have ever played the game. For others it goes further: He was the symbol of soccer played with passion, gusto and a smile. Indeed, he helped to forge an image of the game, which even today lots of people continue to crave. Author SIMON CHADWICK, Professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy, SKEMA Business School Pelé wasn’t just a great player and a wonderful ambassador for the world’s favourite game; he was a cultural icon. Indeed, he…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Brazil bids farewell to beloved soccer star Pele

NEWS

EDUARDO SIMÕES EMOTIONAL crowds bid Brazil soccer legend Pele a final farewell, lining the streets of Santos to watch his coffin taken to its final resting place from the city's stadium where 230,000 mourners had filed past his open casket. Young and old embraced as the funeral procession wound its way through the coastal city's streets for hours, with some fans in tears and others cheering and drumming for a national hero who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history. "It's an irreparable loss for Brazil," said Brazil's newly sworn-in President…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Brazil bids farewell to ‘king of soccer’ Pele with 24-hour wake

NEWS

LAIS MORAIS and EDUARDO SIMÕES THE Brazilian coastal city of Santos, which sporting giant Pele turned into a byword for soccer brilliance during a glittering club career, started bidding goodbye to its hero with a 24-hour wake. Mourners lined up to see Pele's body in an open casket in the centre of the field at the Vila Belmiro stadium, home of the Santos Football Club. Pele died on Thursday at 82 after battling colon cancer. "Pele leaves millions of Santos fans across our country. He was the creator of Brazilian soccer," said Antonio da Paz, a fan outside the stadium for…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Africans mourn the death of soccer great Pele

NEWS

OLIVIA CHAN PELE'S death is marked in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with fans saying he was "bigger than football itself." https://youtu.be/fagOhVhSsR4

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

World soccer to fall silent in memory of Brazilian legend Pele

FOOTBALL

THE sporting world expressed its sorrow at the death of one of its greatest heroes, bidding farewell to Brazilian soccer legend Pele with a flood of heartfelt tributes. Brazil's Pele, a prolific goalscorer who won the World Cup an unprecedented three times as a player in 1958, 1962 and 1970, died on Thursday aged 82 after a long battle with cancer. "Flags at the home of FIFA in Zurich are flying at half-mast today, as we remember the eternal king: Pele," world soccer's governing body FIFA said on Twitter. FIFA has also written to its over 200 member associations asking competition organisers…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

We’ll never forget him – Brazil mourns loss of soccer legend Pele

SPORT

BRAZIL mourned the death of one of its brightest stars, soccer great Pele, with fans and friends paying their respects to the sports icon who died at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer for just over a year. Outside Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital, where Pele had been undergoing treatment, fans gathered to mourn the loss of one of the greatest-ever exponents of the beautiful game, displaying Pele memorabilia on a clothesline by the entrance. "I'll never forget him, the Brazilian king of soccer," said 67-year-old Antonio da Paz. "He provided us with joy even in our saddest times." Pele's…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

77 and counting: Neymar Jr has achieved goalscoring greatness

SPORT

Despite Brazil's shock exit on penalties, Neymar Jr has sensationally equalled Pelé's record with a stunning extra-time goal against Croatia in Qatar and become his country's leading men’s goal scorer. Here is all you need to know: - The nutmegs are still there, and so are the cheeky flicks, the incredible control in tight spaces and the ability to wriggle his way out of what seems a dead end. Goals sometimes seem like an added extra for Neymar Jr - yet he's now Brazil's joint all-time leading men’s goal scorer. - Heading into his third major global tournament, he knew…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

‘We are on this journey together’: Pele backs Brazil ahead of World Cup match

SPORT

SOCCER great Pele backed Brazil's national team ahead of their World Cup round of 16 match against South Korea, saying he will watch the game from hospital after being admitted there last week as he battles colon cancer. Pele, 82, said in an Instagram post that he wished to inspire Brazil's players by sharing a picture taken at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden when the then-teenager shocked the world leading the South American side to their first title. "I'll watch the game from here at the hospital and I'll be rooting for each one of you," Pele said ahead…